Kinetoscope.



2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

PATENTED UGT. 8, 1907. F. SPAULDING @a J. B. SMITH.

in n svn n a u KIN APPLICATION FILED 213.21, 1907.

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NoA 667,682. ATENTED GCT. 8, 1907. F. SPAULDING J. D. SMITH,

KINETOSGOPB.

APPLIUATION FILED PEB.21,1907.

2 SEBETS-SHEET 2,

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FRANKLIN SPAULDING AND .IAMES D. SMITH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOlS, ASSIGN'ORS OF ONE- THIRD TO CHICAGO FILM EXCHANGE, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

UNITED STATES KINETOSCOPE.`

lSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct; 8, 1907.

Application filed February 21, 1907. Serial No. 358,524-

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that we, FRANKLIN SPAULDING and JAMES D. SMiTH, citizens of the United States, and residents of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and. useful Improvements in Kinetoscopes, of which the following is a specification, and which are illustrated in theiaccompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

The invention relates to kinetoscope's comprising mechanism for rapidly presenting successive portions of a continuous picture film to the optical field of a projecting lens; and the object of the invention is to provide improved means for adjusting the film-ad vancing mechanism whereby the pictures on the film may be accurately brought info register with the lens at cach advance of the film.

The invention is exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figurel 1 is a front elevation of a device constructed according to theinvention; Fig. 2 is a detail vertical longitudinal section of the same, taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. l, Fig. 3 is a detail plan section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. l; Fig. 4 is a vertical section viewed fromthe lines 4 4 of Figs. l and 5 Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional views taken on the lines 5 5 and 6 6, respectively, of Fig. 4, Fig. 7 is a detail section taken on the line 7 7 of Fig. 5; and Fig. 8 shows a detail of construction separated from other parts. I

The kinct'oscope illustrated in theY drawings is of that form adapted for the projection of images upon a screen. It comprises a rectangular carrying frame 10, adapted to be placed in front of a suitable source of light, not shown, and having a projecting lens tube l1. A diaphragm 12, having a central aperture 13 commensurate in size with each of the images on the film or tape, serves to cut off from the lens all light emitted from the lamp or other. source, except that which passes through the image. As shown this diaphragm l2 is fixed in position on the carrying frame directly in front of the lens-tube 13.

A reel 14 is provided for carrying the film A, and is preferably rotatably mounted at the top of a standard 15 rising from the frame 10. l l

ltlechanism is provided for causing the tape or film from the reel 14 to pass the diaphragm opening 13 with a rapid intermittent movement. As shown, this mechanism is carried by a plate 16 mounted on the frame 10 immediately in front of the diaphragm l2, and comprises a pair of feed belts 17, each having a row of pins or studs 1S designed to engage with apertures a pr: fided at each edge of the tape or film A. Each of those feed belts turns/,over a pair of sprockets 19, 20,

together on rotating axles, as 21, 22, journaled in brackets 23, 24, secured to the plate 16.

For maintaining thefilm in Contact with the feed belts 17, a second feed belt 25 moves in front of the forward lap of each of the belts I7, the tape A passing between the belts. As shown each of the belts 25 is provided with a plurality of apertures 26,.which receive the ends of the studs 18, and each turns over sprockets 27, 28, which are preferably arranged a greater distance apart than the sprockets 19, 20, carrying the feed belts 17.

In order that the feed belts 25 may be withdrawn from contact with the feed belts 17 to permit of access to the tape A between the belts the sprockets 27, 28, are journaled in vbrackets 29, 30, respectively, carried by a movable plate or door 31, which is connected to the plate 16 by hinges 32, 33. Preferably one leg, as 34, of each of the hinges 32, 33, is of considerable length in order that the plate 16 and door 31 may be spaced apart a sufcient distance to permit the feed belts 25 to turn between them. A clasp 35 (Fig. 1) serves for securing the door in the closed position. As shown the inner edge of each of the sprockets 27, 28, projects somewhat beyond the plane occupied bythe forward lap of each of the feed belts 17 when the door 31 is closed, thereby insuring immediate contact between each of the feed belts 17 and 25 and the tape A, one lap of each of the belts 25 being slightly deected by the sprockets 19, 20.-

To insure the registration of the studs-or pins 18 carried by the feed belts 17 within the apertures 26 of the feed belts 25, whenever the door 31 is closed, -gear pinions 36 and 37, having teeth of the same pitch as that of the studs 18 (Fig. 2), are mounted on the axle 21 of the sprockets 19 and the rotating axle'of the sprockets 27, respectively, and these sprockets are connected by idle gears 38 and 109, journaled in a bracket 39, rising from the plate 16.

A ratchet wheel 40 is prbvided for driving the feed belt 17 and, as shown, is xed upon a shaft 40, which is journaled in a bracket 51 formed on vthe face of the plate 16 and is operatively connected, b y gears 41, 42, to the rotating axle 22 of the lower sprockets 20. The ratchet wheel 40 is engaged by a pawl-arm 43 to advance the feed belts 17. The pawl-arm is pivotally mounted on the ratchet shaft 40, and-is adaptedto be oscllated in a vertical plane by a cam 44, mounted on washer 108 bears on the face of the ratchet wheel 40 to the reel 14 in advance of the feed belts 17 and 25 by a side of the film, Aare mounted on a shaft 59 journaled in 'frame 10. A guide-roll 58, rotatably mounted on an draw the film from.the reel. For driving the sprock- A the mechanism, is carried by one -of its continuouslyto that part of the filmwhich is in front of the diaphragm l by means of the invention it is effected from the rotatpawl-armj 43 a cushion 53 is providedfor bufiing its retractivel movement. As shown this cushion is mounted at the base of a fork 52, formed in the outer end of the bracket 51 and straddling the pawl-arm 43 ,l

4the gear 62 by vertical movement of the plate 16.

'turning the elevating screw 70, when the device is in --the elevating screwj between the gears 76, 77. To

prevent the partsfrom turning in advance of the pawl. The pawl-arm 43 is retracted by a spring 50, whichv reacts between thepawl-arm and the bracket 51, and to reduce the noise incident to the vibration of the and the height of the cushion is rendered adjustable by a set-screw 54 entering the fork 52 from above and bearing downwardly on the cushion.'

Provision is made for withdrawing the film A from continuous movement, for otherwise the inertia of the reel would'cause the film to be torn by the intermittent i movement of the feed belts. To this end sprockets 56, i having studs 57 for engaging the apertures a at each front of -the reel 14. As shown the sprocket shaft 59 is carried by th'e brackets 60 and 110, rising fromthe arm 58'* extending in front of the rcel from a`standard 64, coperates with each of the sprockets 56 to with-y gear 97, carried by the cam shaft 45.. A fly-wheel 65,

of sufc'ient` weight to insure a uniform movement of rotating/parts, and as shown is mounted at the outer end of the horizontal shaft 59.

The plate 16 and door 31-each have an aperture, as 66, 67, respectively, for permitting the passage of light;

aperture 13. To insure the images on the film coming into register with the diaphragm aperture 13 at each successive advance of the fe'ed mechanism, the apertures 66 and 67 are wider than thediaphragm aperture 13 and the plate 16 i's verticallyadjustable in the frame 10.

As is most clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 5 of the drawings, the plate 16 is slidably mounted on vertical ways 68, 69, and is supported -in any adjusted position by an elevating screw 70, journaled in a bracket-arm 7l projecting from one side of *the plate 16 and havinga threaded engagement with a similar bracket-arm 72 projecting from the side of the frame 10. The spiral gear 61 carried by thevertical shaft 63 for driving the lhorizontal shaft 59, has a sliding engagement with the shaft63 in cu'der-:that it may not be disengaged from It sometimes-necessary, as when a splice in the film A is reached,.to vertically adjust the plate 16, by

operation. This adjustment is' termed framing up" the picture exhibited on thc screen (not shown), and.

ing parts of the tape-feeding mechanism and is ycontrolled by the hand of the attendant on the crank-handle 49. As shown, a sleeve 74 is slidably mounted on the driving shaft 48 and is fixed against rotation thereon `bya spline 75'. Gears 76, 77, are formed on thisv sleeve, and a gear pinion 73 is mounted at the head of formed at its outer end a collar 78 having a circumfer-y ential groove 79. The crank-arm of the handle 49 is vmade shiftable, and carries an arm having its inner end forked and entering the groove 79 of the collar 78.

As Ashown the crank-arm of the handle 49 comprises a pair of parallel bars 82, 83," each pivotally secured to the driving shaft 48 at 84, 85, respectively, and these parallel arms areconnected intermediate their ends by the arm 80 which leads to the sleeve 74, and at their outer ends by a strap-86 which carries the grip piece 87fof the crank-handle 49. A spring 88; secured to the driving shaft 48 at 89, reacts between the arms 82,183, of the crank handle to yieldingly maintain them in mid position. I I

lA shutter 90 is provided for vclosing the aperture 67 in the door 31, and provision is made for automatically opening this shutter, when -the parts of the machine have attained a certain speed, and for permittingthc shutter to close when the speed of the machine is reduced. l As'shown this shutter is pivotally secured -to the door at 91 and is supported, when in the closed position, by a stop 92. Fixed and movable collars 98, 99, respectively, are mounted on the verticall shaft 63, and these collars are connected by elastic flexible straps 100, which are weighted intermediate their ends after the manner' of an engine governor, as shown at 'in the plte 10 at 105, enrmthe'- groove 102. At theV opposite end of the rock shaft 104 isa lcrank-arm 106, carrying a wrist pin 107 whichenters the bifurcatedl end 108 of a crank-arm 109, carried by the pivot 91 of the shutter 90. If the door 31 be opened the crankarm 109 becomes disengaged from the wrist pin`107. andthe shutter 90 is then supported in the closed position by the stop 92, but whenever the door 31u-is 'i closed the shifting of the movable collar 99 on the vertical shaft 931s communicated to the shutter through the rock shaft 104.

In starting the machine the film A from lthe reel 14 will be threaded between the feed belts 17 and `25, by

shutter 90 will be raised,l by the shifting of the collar 99, to' permit light to pass through the film to the projecting lens tube 11.

The film A is withdrawn from the reel 14 by a continuous movement of the sprockets 56, transmitted from the 'driving shaft 48 through'the vertical shaft 63, I

belts 17 and 25, which are driven by the pawl arm 43 (Fig. 6) actuated from the driving shaft -48 through the cam' Shaft 45.' The slm is delivered from the; feed belts 17, 25, into any suitable form cf receptacle, and

may be rewound on the reel 14 whenever the whole or any desired 'portion of it has been exhibited.

If for any reason the images (not shown) on the film A do not register with the diaphragm aperture 13 at each advance of the film, the entire eed mechanism may be shifted .by raising or lowering the plate 16, the diaphragm 12 remaining stationary. This raising or lowering of the plate 16 is effected by turning the elevating screw 70 (Fig. l), and the screw 70 is turned from the rotating parts oi the feed mechanism iflongitudinal pressure be applied to the hand crank 49, inward pressure on this crank, as shown, causing the gear 77 to engage with the gear 73 at the head of the screw 70 to raise the plate 16, if the hand crank be turned to the right, while ii the hand crank 49 be pulled outwardly as it is turned the gear 76 will en gage with the gear 73 and rotate the screw 70 to lower the plate 16. Normally, the hand crank 49 is maintained in mid position, both of the gears 76 and 77 be- 'ing then disengaged from the gear 73 by a spring 88.

It will be seen, therefore, that the driving of the feed mechanism and the vertical adjusting of the picture requirethe use of but one hand of the attendant.

While We have shown and described improved moans, including the feed belts 17 and 25, for advancing the picture film A, we do not herein claim the same as our joint invention, as it is the sole invention of Franklin Spaulding.

We claim as our invention- 1. vIn a kinetoscope, in combination, a carrying frame, a lens carried thereby, 'an apertured plate slidably mounted on the frame in front of the lens, an elevating screw supporting the plate, lm-feeding mechanism including a driving shaft mounted on the apertured plate, a hand crank shiftably mounted on the driving shaft, and means controllable by the hand crank for driving the elevating screw in either direction.

L". In a knetoscope, in combination, a carrying frame, a lenscarried thereby, an apertured plate slidably mounted on the frame in front of the lens, an elevating screw sup porting the plate, film-feeding mechanism including a driving shaft mounted on the apertured platefa hand crank shiftably mounted on the driving shaft, and differential gear connection between the driving shaft and the elevating screw controllable by the hand crank.

3. In a kinetoscope, in combination, a carrying frame, a lens carried thereby, an apertured plate slidably mounted on the frame in front of the lens, film-feeding mechanism including a driving shaft mounted on the apertured plate, a sleeve slidable on the driving shaft and iixed against rotation thereon, oppositely facing gears formed on the sleeve, an elevating screw supporting the apertured plate, the head of the screw entering between the gears on the sleeve and being provided with gear-teeth, a erank-arm pivotally secured to the driving shaft, a spring for maintaining the crank-arm in central position, and connection between the cranknrm and the sleeve.

4. In a kinetoscope, in combination, a nlm carrier, means for adjusting the carrier, and means for driving the lm carrier arranged to actuate the carrier adjusting means at the will ofthe operator.

5. In a knetoscope, in combination, a film carrier, means for adjusting the carrier, and means for driving the film carrier operatively engageable with the carrier-.adjusting means.

6. In a kinetoscope, in combination, a projecting lens, a nlm carrier shiftably mounted in front of the lens, means for shifting the carrier, and means for driving the film carrier, operatively engageable with the carrier 'shifting means.

7. In a kinetoscope, in combination, a projecting lens, a film carrier slidably mounted in front of the lens, an elevating screw supporting the carrier, and means for driving the film carrier operatively engageable with the screw.

8. In a kinetoscope, in combination, a projecting lens, a iilm carrier shittably mounted in front of the lens, means for shifting the carrier, means for driving the carrier including a shaft and a hand crank shiftably mounted thereon, and operative connection, controlled by the hand crank, between the carrierdriving means andthe carriershifting means.

FRANKLIN SPAULDING. JAMES D. SMITH.v Witnesses:

Fano Manna, T. H. Ml'rcnxu.. 

